Systems and methods relating to design of mobile applications for display ads on a larger screen space

ABSTRACT

Techniques are provided which facilitate mobile applications displaying advertisements on a larger screen space without worrying about screen clutter or interference with application functionality. Motion events are triggered once a computerized device detects a threshold magnitude of tilt along a first, second, and/or third coordinate axis. A graphical display is presented to the user which includes at least one advertisement. Several embodiments of the graphical display include a three-dimensional object and full-screen display which are maintained so long as a magnitude of tilt of the computerized device is detected.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 13/735,680,filed on Jan. 7, 2013, which is hereby incorporated by reference in itsentirety.

BACKGROUND

With the advent of smart phones equipped with faster data speeds, mobileapplications have significantly displaced traditional laptops anddesktops as the primary internet browsing access point for manyconsumers. According to the Pew Internet Project, nearly half (46%) ofAmerican adults are smartphone owners. A majority of adult cell owners(55%) now go online using their phones, and 17% of cell phone owners domost of their online browsing on their phone, rather than a computer orother device.

However, advertising through mobile applications has largely beenlimited due to a variety of reasons. The important mobile applicationmarkets like Android and Apple iTunes for iOS devices have strictpolicies on display advertising. They do not allow applications whichuse large screen space for advertising, since they cause screen clutterand interference in application functionality. Display advertising onmobile devices is generally shown on small strips either at the bottomor top of the application, or notification areas of the mobile devicescreen. This technique has a limited effect on the end user due to asmall screen size and thus has limited the revenue generation throughthese ads. There have been many attempts to work around this limitation,but none of the designs have overcome this constraint.

Accordingly, there is a need for mobile applications which can displayadvertisements on a larger screen space without worrying about screenclutter or interference with application functionality.

SUMMARY

Some embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methodswhich take advantage of the particular motion events associated with amobile device. These events act as additional user inputs for which theuser does not make any significant effort. These events, when deliveredto the application, have the data of device orientation, like angles ofrotation around the three co-ordinate axis. The application can usethese angle inputs to trigger display advertisements on the entiredevice screen when the angles are beyond some threshold, and return tonormal display on other angles.

In some embodiments, the “home” or the first screen of the applicationmay be designed in a special three dimensional appearance (e.g. arotating cube), which can be rotated through touch screen interaction ordevice motion events described below. The different faces of therotating cube can display different features of the application orpreview of different screens of the application, with one face reservedfor displaying advertisements. By rotating the cube, and selecting aface of the cube, the user can navigate to any screen of theapplication, including the advertisement screen. The user can come backto home screen through the use of a special “Home” button on theapplication, visible on all screens of the application.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a distributed computer system according to one embodiment ofthe invention;

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating a method according to oneembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating a method according to oneembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating one embodiment of the invention;and

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating one embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a distributed computer system 100 according to one embodimentof the invention. The system 100 includes user computers 104, advertisercomputers 106 and server computers 108, all coupled or able to becoupled to the Internet 102. Although the Internet 102 is depicted, theinvention contemplates other embodiments in which the Internet is notincluded, as well as embodiments in which other networks are included inaddition to the Internet, including one more wireless networks, WANs,LANs, telephone, cell phone, or other data networks, etc. The inventionfurther contemplates embodiments in which user computers 104 may be orinclude desktop or laptop PCs, as well as, wireless, mobile, or handhelddevices such as smart phones, PDAs, tablets, etc.

Each of the one or more computers 104, 106 and 108 may be distributed,and can include various hardware, software, applications, algorithms,programs and tools. Depicted computers may also include a hard drive,monitor, keyboard, pointing or selecting device, etc. The computers mayoperate using an operating system such as Windows by Microsoft, etc.Each computer may include a central processing unit (CPU), data storagedevice, and various amounts of memory including RAM and ROM. Depictedcomputers may also include various programming, applications, algorithmsand software to enable searching, search results, and advertising, suchas graphical or banner advertising as well as keyword searching andadvertising in a sponsored search context. Many types of advertisementsare contemplated, including textual advertisements, rich advertisements,video advertisements, etc.

As depicted, each of the server computers 108 includes one or more CPUs110 and a data storage device 112. The data storage device 112 includesa database 116 and a Detection of Motion Event Program 114.

The Program 114 is intended to broadly include all programming,applications, algorithms, software and other and tools necessary toimplement or facilitate methods and systems according to embodiments ofthe invention. The elements of the Program 114 may exist on a singleserver computer or be distributed among multiple computers or devices.

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating a method 200 according to oneembodiment of the invention. At step 202, using one or more servercomputers, an application for use by a user using a computerized deviceis provided. In some embodiments, a computerized device includes but isnot limited to a mobile device, cell phone, tablet, PDA, or e-bookreader. An application is typically installed by a user onto saidcomputerized device on several platforms such as Apple iOS or Androidoperating systems.

At step 204, using one or more computers, information related to aninitial orientation of the device along each of a first axis, a secondaxis, and a third axis is obtained. This information serves as ameasurement against any subsequent movements to detect any potentialmotion event triggered by a change in magnitude of tilt along any of theaxes. To illustrate by way of example, a user who has a smartphone andopens a mobile application on his/her smartphone while holding it inhis/her hand at a certain initial orientation. Any subsequent movementsof the smartphone by the user may trigger a motion event depending onthe magnitude of tilt along the coordinate axes with respect to theinitial orientation.

At step 206, using one or more computers, it is determined whether thereexists a magnitude of tilt along each of said first axis, said secondaxis, and said third axis. This determination is made with respect tothe initial orientation. At step 208, using one or more computers, theuser is targeted with a graphical display to be presented at least inpart via the device, wherein the graphical display is dependent onmaintaining a magnitude of tilt.

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating a method 300 according to oneembodiment of the invention. At step 302, using one or more servercomputers, an application for use by a user using a computerized deviceis provided. In some embodiments, a computerized device includes but isnot limited to a mobile device, cell phone, tablet, PDA, or e-bookreader. An application is typically installed by a user onto saidcomputerized device on several platforms such as Apple iOS or Androidoperating systems.

At step 304, using one or more computers, information related to aninitial orientation of the device along each of a first axis, a secondaxis, and a third axis is obtained, wherein the initial orientation ofthe device is recalculated if the magnitude of tilt along any axisexceeds 180°. This information serves as a measurement against anysubsequent movements to detect any potential motion event triggered by achange in magnitude of tilt along any of the axes. The initialorientation is recalculated in the event the device experiencessignificant movement indicative of a user's intention of removing adevice from idleness to be used, putting a device back into a storagecompartment, dropping a phone, or handing a phone to another person. Toillustrate by way of example, a user who has a smartphone and opens amobile application on his/her smartphone while holding it in his/herhand at a certain initial orientation. Any subsequent movements of thesmartphone by the user may trigger a motion event depending on themagnitude of tilt along the coordinate axes with respect to the initialorientation.

At step 306, using one or more computers, it is determined whether thereexists a magnitude of tilt along each of said first axis, said secondaxis, and said third axis. This determination is made with respect tothe initial orientation. At step 308, using one or more computers, theuser is targeted with a graphical display to be presented at least inpart via the device, wherein the graphical display is dependent onmaintaining a magnitude of tilt and is a three dimensional objectcapable of being rotated with at least one side representing a displayadvertisement.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram 400 according to one embodiment of theinvention. The computerized device 402 targets the user with a graphicaldisplay wherein the graphical display is a three-dimensional object 404capable of being rotated with at least one side representing a displayadvertisement. In this figure, the three-dimensional object 404 isrepresented as a cube capable of being rotated with at least one of itssix faces representing a display advertisement.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram 500 according to one embodiment of theinvention. The computerized device 502 obtains information related to aninitial orientation of the device along each of a first axis 504, asecond axis 506, and a third axis 508. Motion events are detected basedon a magnitude of tilt along each of said first axis 504, said secondaxis 506, and said third axis 508.

While the invention is described with reference to the above drawings,the drawings are intended to be illustrative, and the inventioncontemplates other embodiments within the spirit of the invention.

1: A system comprising one or more processors and a non-transitorystorage medium comprising program logic for execution by the one or moreprocessors, the program logic comprising: an orientation thresholdprogramming module that: based on obtained user device orientationinformation, detects a change in rotational orientation of the devicebeyond a specified threshold, wherein the detection of the change beyondthe specified threshold comprises detection of a specified degree ofchange in orientation with respect to at least one rotational axis, froma detected previous orientation of the device, wherein an initialorientation of the device is recalculated if the detected degree ofchange exceeds a predefined maximum value; and a rotatable displayobject programming module that: upon detection of the change inrotational orientation of the device beyond the specified threshold,causes display, on the device, of a visibly three-dimensional objecthaving a set of faces, wherein each of the faces comprises an associatedface display, and wherein the visibly three-dimensional object can bevisibly rotated, by touch screen interaction of the user with thedevice, to select a face, of the set of faces, for display of a facedisplay associated with the selected face. 2: The system of claim 1,wherein the rotatable display object programming module, upon detectionof a second change in rotational orientation of the device below thespecified threshold, causes display of the visibly three-dimensionalobject to cease. 3: The system of claim 1, wherein at least one facedisplay represents a display advertisement. 4: The system of claim 1,wherein the predefined maximum value is a degree of tilt along any oneaxis. 5: The system of claim 4, wherein the predefined maximum value is180 degrees. 6: The system of claim 1, wherein the visiblythree-dimensional object is a cube having six faces. 7: The system ofclaim 1, wherein the visibly three-dimensional object is associated withan application, and wherein each of the face displays, associated witheach of the faces, comprises an aspect of the application, including,for the first face, of the set of faces, advertising related to theapplication. 8: The system of claim 1, wherein the visiblythree-dimensional object is associated with an application, and whereineach of the face displays, associated with each of the faces, comprisesan aspect of the application, including, for the first face, of the setof faces, advertising related to the application, and wherein at leastsome of the face displays present visible previews of screens that arepart of the application. 9: The system of claim 1, wherein the visiblythree-dimensional object is associated with an application, and whereineach of the face displays, associated with each of the faces, comprisesan aspect of the application, including, for the first face, of the setof faces, advertising related to the application, and wherein at leastsome of the face displays present features of the application. 10: Thesystem of claim 1, wherein, for a second face, of the set of faces, anassociated second face display is a home screen, such that, from anyother face display, associated with any other face of the set of faces,the user can touch navigate back to display the second face display. 11:The system of claim 1, wherein, for a second face, of the set of faces,an associated second face display is a home screen, such that, from anyother face display, associated with any other face, the user can touchnavigate back to display the second face display by touching a touchablevisible button. 12: The system of claim 1, wherein, for a second face,of the set of faces, an associated second face display is a home screen,such that, from any other face display, associated with any other face,the user can touch navigate back to display the second face display bytouching a touchable visible button, and wherein the second face displayis visible upon initial display of the visibly three-dimensional object.13: A method comprising: based on obtained user device orientationinformation, detecting a change in rotational orientation of the devicebeyond a specified threshold, wherein the detection of the change beyondthe specified threshold comprises detection of a specified degree ofchange in orientation with respect to at least one rotational axis, froma detected previous orientation of the device, wherein an initialorientation of the device is recalculated if the detected degree ofchange exceeds a predefined maximum value; upon detection of the changebeyond the specified threshold, causing display, on the device, of avisibly three-dimensional object having a set of faces, wherein each ofthe faces comprises an associated face display, and wherein the visiblythree-dimensional object can be visibly rotated, by touch screeninteraction of the user with the device, to select a face, of the set offaces, for display of the face display associated with the selectedface; and upon detection of a second change in rotational orientation ofthe device below the specified threshold, causing display of the visiblythree-dimensional object to cease. 14: The method of claim 13, whereinat least one face display represents a display advertisement. 15: Themethod of claim 13, wherein the predefined maximum value is a degree oftilt along any one axis. 16: The method of claim 15, wherein thepredefined maximum value is 180 degrees. 17: The method of claim 13,comprising causing display of the visibly three-dimensional object,wherein the visibly three-dimensional object is a cube having six faces.18: The method of claim 13, comprising causing display of the visiblythree-dimensional object, wherein the visibly three-dimensional objectis associated with an application, and wherein each of the facedisplays, associated with each of the faces, comprises an aspect of theapplication, including, for the first face of the set of faces,advertising related to the application. 19: A non-transitory computerreadable storage medium or media tangibly storing computer program logiccapable of being executed by a computer processor, the program logiccomprising: orientation threshold programming logic that: based onobtained user device orientation information, detects a change inrotational orientation of the device beyond a specified threshold,wherein the detection of the change beyond the specified thresholdcomprises detection of a specified degree of change in orientation withrespect to at least one rotational axis, from a detected previousorientation of the device, wherein an initial orientation of the deviceis recalculated if the detected degree of change exceeds a predefinedmaximum degree of tilt along any one rotational axis; and rotatabledisplay object programming logic that: upon detection of the change inrotational orientation of the device beyond the specified threshold,causes display, on the device, of a visibly three-dimensional objecthaving a set of faces, wherein each of the faces comprises an associatedface display, and wherein the visibly three-dimensional object can bevisibly rotated, by touch screen interaction of the user with thedevice, to select a face, of the set of faces, for display of the facedisplay associated with the selected face. 20: The non-transitorycomputer readable storage medium or media of claim 19, comprisingrotatable display object programming logic that, upon detection of asecond change below the specified threshold, causes display of thevisibly three-dimensional object to cease.